Saylor and Alonso fired

Apr. 29, 2014

James Saylor

Written by

Jennifer Bowman and Trace Christenson

Two top Battle Creek Police Department officers were fired after a seven-week investigation, Interim City Manager Susan Bedsole said Tuesday.

Deputy Police Chief Jim Saylor and Inspector Maria Alonso’s terminations were effective immediately. The two were placed on paid administrative leave March 5 for what the city said was an investigation into an alleged romantic relationship between the two and the resulting possible creation of a hostile work environment and other performance issues.

Saylor and Alonso have acknowledged they had a relationship but it only began in January after both were divorced.

“A thorough investigation has been completed and based on the result of that investigation, they have been terminated,” Bedsole said.

In a statement, the city said more than 35 people were interviewed by the city’s Human Resources Department and the city attorney.

Interviews were with current and former employees of the police department, and other city departments, and other residents. The investigation also included a review of documents, records and other information, the city said.

Bedsole declined to comment any further, citing pending litigation.

Saylor’s and Alonso’s attorney, Michael Pitt of Royal Oak, called the firings a violation of their constitutional rights.

“As public employees, they were entitled to a fair and impartial investigation before being publicly accused of misconduct on the job,” Pitt said in a statement. “When they were placed on suspension seven weeks ago they asked the City to identify their accusers. Seven weeks later the City has still refused to identify those people who allege that these two officers have engaged in misconduct.”

Pitt said citizens are entitled to know their accusers and confront them.

“Every City employee and citizen of Battle Creek should be distressed by the tactics employed by the City in this case.

Pitt, on behalf of Saylor and Alonso, filed suit April 11 in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Michigan alleging the city destroyed their reputation. The suit called the investigation a sham and said the city did not have just cause to place them on administrative leave or fire them.

In their suit and again in the Tuesday statement, Pitt said the firings are because of an internal investigation and discipline for the son of Mayor David Walters. Officer Derek Walters was disciplined in 2013 after an internal investigation determined he didn’t complete a domestic violence investigation and lied to a supervisor.

Pitt said in his statement the firings were “retaliation for imposing discipline on the mayor’s son.”

The federal suit names the city, Walters, Bedsole and Interim Police Chief Jim Blocker as defendants. All have declined to comment on those allegations from Saylor and Alonso.

Bedsole would not disclose Tuesday the reasons for the firings or the results of the investigation.

Pitt said the city provided a list of allegations but he declined to release them.

“We received a letter which outlines the allegations, but no names were attached, so it is nothing that I would consider valid. They are all anonymous and I don’t know if they are true or not. They have not told us the accusers,” Pitt said. “And I won’t repeat what I don’t know is true.”

Saylor, 47, served 24 years with the department and was eligible to retire in about 75 days. Alonso, 42, had been with the department for 18 years.